Expanations of Attachment Flashcards
Learning theory is a set of explanation which help to understand behaviour int erm of what
- learning via experiences and consequences
- it does not include innate traits as a factor in behaviour
Learning theory suggests that
- children are born as blank slates
- experience is key to learning
- children attach to caregiver because caregiver is provider of food
Learning theory is split into tow explanations
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning
Learning developed through association of stimuli
Classical conditioning in terms of attachment is known as
Cupboard love theory
- caregiver starts as neutral stimulus
- food is unconditioned stimulus
- the baby’s response is unconditioned response
- as caregiver provides food they become associated with food
- baby expects food whe they see their caregiver
- so the ns has become conditioned stimulus which is met with any conditioned response
What is operant conditioning
Is learning through onsequence of a behaviour
- behaviour produces pleasant consequence = repeated behaviour
- behaviour produces negative consequences = less likely to be repeated
Limitations of learning theory - animal studies
Animal studies contradict the learning theory of attachment
- rhesus monkeys attached to cloth instead of mother who gave food
- so other factors are importantly in forming an attachment rather then association wiht food
Limitation learning theory - human studies
Schaffer and Emerson foun babies formed their primary attachment to their mother despite wether mother isn’t the one who give food they
Evidence suggest food is not the main factor in attachment
Limitation of learning theory - reductionism
Attachments are emotionally rich and complex learning theory oversimplifies this
What did bowlby research lead him to suggest
Suggest that attachment was an innate system developed as an evolutionary process to aid survival
- infant must attach to caregiver for - protection,source of food, nurture and care
- parent must attach to infant to ensure they are cared for and survive
Bobbly theory of attachment is said to be
Monotropic as he suggest vile forms attachment to one caregiver
- more time spent with this caregiver - better the quality if attachment
What principles does bowlby propose to explain why the longer a child spend wiht there caregiver the better of quality attachment
- law of continuity: more constant and predicable = better quality of attachment
- law of accumulated separation: every separation from caregiver affects the child
How is attachment formed according to bowlby
- babies have innate behaviours to help caregiver form attachment to infant eg smiling, cooing
- these behaviours are social releases as they trigger the adult to interact
- caregiver are more responsible ad accessible there will be a stronger attachment made
What is the Internal working model
Bowlby suggest a child forms a model of what relationships look like using there attachment and relationship from primary attachment figure
- a child who experiences:
loving and secure relationship
negative relationships
How does the idea of the internal Woking model mean for these children
- a child who experiences loving and secure relationships wiht a consistent and safe caregiver will grow up to expect this in later relationships
- a child who experiences negative relationship will tend to form poor relationships in the further and expect negative treatment
Strength of bowlby monotropic theory - animal studies
Lorenz - gosling formed attachment to first then they saw suggesting its an innate process
Supports bowlby idea that attachment has developed as an evolutionary process to aid survival
Strength of bowlby idea about social releasers
When caregivers ignore babes social releases the bases become distressed
Suggest babies use secular releases as a way to elicit attention and attachment to their caregiver
These finding support bowlby theory of social releases
Limitation of bowlby theory that babies only form one attachment
Schaffer and Emerson propose babies form multiple strong attachments to a variety of caregivers suggesting bowlby mono topic theory is incorrect
Limitations of bowlby theory that attachments cant be formed after critical period
Rutter et al - Romanian orphans - foud although less likely attachments can form after the critical period
So critical period is now called sensitive period
